Sun Tzu

“Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to capture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.”

“to blame.”

“and addressed them thus: “I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?”

“bestowed”

“siege”

“expenditure”

“provisions”

“When the general is weak and without authority; when his orders are not clear and distinct; when there are no fixed duties assigned to officers and men, and the ranks are formed in a slovenly haphazard manner, the result is utter disorganization.”

“On open ground, do not try to block the enemy's way. On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies.”

“Be where your enemy is not.”

“The wise warrior avoids the battle.”

“Move not unless you see an advantage; use not your troops unless there is something to be gained; fight not unless the position is critical.”

“If you do not take opportunity   to   advance and reward   the   deserving,   your subordinates will not carry out your commands, and disaster will ensue.”

“Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.”

“Unhappy is the fate of one who tries to win his battles and succeed in his attacks without cultivating the spirit of enterprise;  for the result is waste of time and   general stagnation.”

“Never venture, never win!”

“At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden,  until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.”

“Conform to the enemy's tactics until a favorable opportunity offers; then come forth and engage in a battle that shall prove decisive.”

“Be stern in the council-chamber, [Show no weakness, and insist on your plans being ratified by the sovereign.] so that you may control the situation.”

“Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.”

“Danger has a bracing effect.”

“When the outlook is bright, bring it before their eyes; but tell them nothing when the situation is gloomy.”

“mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy”

“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”

“Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will.”

“if you fight with all your might,  there is a chance of life; where as death is certain if you cling to your corner”

“Ground on which we can only be saved from destruction by fighting without delay, is desperate ground.”

“When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you have no hankering after home.”

“the worst calamities that befall an army arise from hesitation”

“When the officers are too strong and the common soldiers too weak, the result is COLLAPSE.”

“When the common soldiers are too strong and their officers too weak, the result is INSUBORDINATION.”

“To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence.”

“If there is disturbance in the camp, the general's authority is weak. ”

“If those who are sent to draw water begin by drinking themselves, the army is suffering from thirst. [One may know the condition of a whole army from the behavior of a single man.]”

“When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream.  It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack.”

“Bravery without forethought, causes a man to fight blindly and desperately like a mad bull.  Such an opponent, must not be encountered with brute force, but may be lured into an ambush and slain.”

“If we wish to wrest an advantage from the enemy, we must not fix our minds on that alone, but allow for the possibility of the enemy also doing some harm to us, and let this enter as a factor into our calculations.”

“Whether in an advantageous position or a disadvantageous one, the opposite state should be always present to your mind.”

“We are not fit to lead an army on the march unless we are familiar with the face of the country -- its mountains and forests, its pitfalls and precipices, its marshes and swamps.”

“We cannot enter into alliances until we are acquainted with the designs of our neighbors.”

“If he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.”

“The spot where we intend to fight must not be made known; for then the enemy will have to prepare against a possible attack at several different points;”

“You can ensure the safety of your defense if you only hold positions that cannot be attacked.”

“You can be sure of succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”

“Great results, can be achieved with small forces.”

“There are not more than five primary colors  (blue, yellow,  red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.”

“The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”

“first lay plans which will ensure victory, and then lead your army to battle;  if you will not begin with stratagem but rely on brute strength alone, victory will no longer be assured”

“By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure.”

“The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.”